These release notes describe caveats and features for maintenance release Cisco IOS Release 12.3(8)JED1. This release supports 16-Mb Cisco autonomous access points, including Cisco Aironet 1100, 1200, and 1230 series autonomous access points. The Cisco Aironet 350 series is no longer supported in this release or any future release.

Introduction

The Cisco Aironet Access Point is a wireless LAN transceiver that acts as the connection point between wireless and wired networks or as the center point of a standalone wireless network. In large installations, the roaming functionality provided by multiple access points enables wireless users to move freely throughout the facility while maintaining uninterrupted access to the network.

You can configure and monitor 1100, 1200, and 1230, series access points using the command-line interface (CLI), the web-browser interface, or Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

System Requirements

Cisco IOS Release 12.3(8)JED1 is a software upgrade release that includes new features and bug fixes. You can install Cisco IOS Release 12.3(8)JED1 on any Cisco Aironet 1100, 1210, or 1230 series access point.

Note Software upgrades may fail when you use the web-browser interface to install Cisco IOS Release 12.3(8)JED1 on 1200 series access points. The image size exceeds the access point's 4-MB restriction for software upgrades. Use TFTP to upgrade your access point to this release. For complete instructions on using TFTP to upgrade access point software, see the "Working with Software Images" section in the Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide for Cisco Aironet Access Points. Click this link to browse to that document:http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps4570/tsd_products_support_configure.html

You can also install this release on 1200 series access points that have been converted to run Cisco IOS software. You can verify that an access point runs VxWorks or Cisco IOS software by looking at the GUI: the GUI on an access point running VxWorks has a yellow and red color scheme, and the GUI on an access point running Cisco IOS software has a green, light-green, and black color scheme.

Your 1200 series access point must run one of these VxWorks releases before you can convert to Cisco IOS software: 12.03T, 12.02T1, 12.01T1, 12.00T, 11.56, or 11.54T. If your access point runs version 12.04, you must downgrade to a supported VxWorks release before upgrading to Cisco IOS software.

Caution Do not attempt to load a Cisco IOS image on 1200 series access points that have not been converted. Doing so can disable the access point.

Finding the Cisco IOS Software Version

To find the version of Cisco IOS software running on your access point, use a Telnet session to log into the access point, and enter the show version EXEC command. This example shows command output from an access point running Cisco IOS Release 12.4(21a)JA1:

ap1200>show version

Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software

IOS (tm) C1200 Software (C1200-K9W7-M), Version 12.4(21a)JA1

Copyright (c) 1986-2009 by Cisco Systems, Inc.

On access points running Cisco IOS software, you can also find the software version on the System Software Version page in the access point's web-browser interface. If your access point does not run Cisco IOS software, the software version appears at the top left of most pages in the web-browser interface.

Upgrading to a New Software Release

For instructions on installing access point software for your access point:

Installation Notes

This section contains information that you should keep in mind when installing Cisco Aironet autonomous access points.

Installation in Environmental Air Space

This section provides information on installing 1100 and 1200 series access points in environmental air space, such as above suspended ceilings.

Cisco Aironet 1100 and 1200 series access points provide adequate fire resistance and low smoke-producing characteristics suitable for operation in a building's environmental air space, such as above suspended ceilings, in accordance with Section 300-22(C) of the National Electrical Code (NEC) and Sections 2-128, 12-010(3) and 12-100 of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1, C22.1.

Caution The power injector does not provide fire resistance and low smoke-producing characteristics and
is not intended for use in extremely high or low temperatures or in environmental air spaces such as above suspended ceilings.

Note If you plan to mount a 1200 series access point with a 5-GHz radio in an area subject to environmental air space, we recommend that you mount the access point horizontally so that its antennas point down. Doing so ensures that the access point complies with regulatory requirements for environmental air space with the 5-GHz radio installed.

Power Considerations

This section describes issues that you should consider before applying power to an access point.

Caution The operational voltage range for 1100 series access points is 35 to 57 VDC, and the nominal voltage is 48 VDC. Voltages higher than 60 VDC can damage the equipment.

Caution The nominal voltage for 1200 series access points is 48 VDC, and the access point is operational up to 60 VDC. Voltages higher than 60 VDC can damage the equipment.

Caution Cisco Aironet power injectors are designed for use only with Cisco Aironet access points and bridges.
Do not use the power injector with any other Ethernet-ready device. Using the power injector with other Ethernet-ready devices can damage the equipment.

Use Only One Power Option

You cannot provide redundant power to 1100 and 1200 series access points with both DC power to its power port and inline power from a patch panel or powered switch to the access point Ethernet port. If you apply power to the access point from both sources, the switch or power patch panel might shut down the port to which the access point is connected. Figure 1 shows the power configuration that can shut down the port on the patch panel or powered switch.

Figure 1 Improper Power Configuration Using Two Power Sources

Using the AC Power Adapter

If you use the AC power adapter to provide power to the access point, you do not need to adjust the access point configuration.

Using a Switch Capable of IEEE 802.3af Power Negotiation

If you use a switch to provide Power over Ethernet (PoE) to the access point and the switch supports the IEEE 802.3af power negotiation standard, select Power Negotiation on the System Software: System Configuration page.

Using a Switch That Does Not Support IEEE 802.3af Power Negotiation

If you use a switch to provide Power over Ethernet (PoE) to the access point and the switch does not support the IEEE 802.3af power negotiation standard, select Pre-Standard Compatibility on the System Software: System Configuration page.

Using a Power Injector

If you use a power injector to provide power to the access point, select Power Injector on the System Software: System Configuration page, and enter the MAC address of the switch port to which the access point is connected.

Operating 5-GHz Radio Requires Power Injector, Power Module, or Catalyst 3550-24 PWR Switch

The 1200 series power injector and the 1200 series power module support operation of the 5-GHz radio in the access point. The Catalyst 3550-24 PWR switch supports power for both the 2.4-GHz radio and the 5-GHz radio. Other switches and power patch panels might not provide enough power for the 5-GHz radio.

Access Point Requires 1200 Series Universal Power Supply and Power Injector

If you use a power injector or a power module to provide power to a 1200 series access point, you must use a 1200 series universal power supply. If you need to use a power injector to inject power into the access point's Ethernet port, you must use a 1200 series power injector.

When you connect an unpowered 1100 series access point to a switch without loopback detection, the access point causes a loopback. To avoid this problem, make sure loopback detection is enabled on the switch to which the access point is connected. If your switch does not have loopback detection, disconnect the access point from the switch when the access point power is off.

Antenna Installation

For instructions on the proper installation and grounding of external antennas for 1200 series access points, refer to the National Fire Protection Association's NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, Article 810, and the Canadian Standards Association's Canadian Electrical Code, Section 54.

Warning Do not install the antenna near overhead power lines or other electric light or power circuits, or where it can come into contact with such circuits. When installing the antenna, take extreme care not to come into contact with such circuits, as they may cause serious injury or death.

New Features

There are no new features in this maintenance release.

Important Notes

This section describes important information about the access point.

Access Point Creates File When Radar is Detected on a DFS Channel

When an access point detects a radar on a DFS channel, the access point creates a file in its flash memory. The file is based on the 802.11a radio serial number and contains the channel numbers on which the the radar is detected. This is an expected behavior and you should not remove this file.

Access points running recent Cisco IOS versions are transmitting multicast and management frames at the highest configured basic rate, and is a situation that could causes reliability problems.

Access points running LWAPP or autonomous IOS should transmit multicast and management frames at the lowest configured basic rate. This is necessary in order to provide for good coverage at the cell's edge, especially for unacknowledged multicast transmissions where multicast wireless transmissions may fail to be received.

Since multicast frames are not retransmitted at the MAC layer, stations at the edge of the cell may fail to receive them successfully. If reliable reception is a goal, then multicasts should be transmitted at a low data rate. If support for high data rate multicasts is required, then it may be useful to shrink the cell size and to disable all lower data rates.

Depending on your specific requirements, you can take the following action:

•If you need to transmit the multicast data with the greatest reliability and if there is no need for great multicast bandwidth, then configure a single basic rate, one that is low enough to reach the edges of the wireless cells

•If you need to transmit the multicast data at a certain data rate in order to achieve a certain throughput, then configure that rate as the highest basic rate. You can also set a lower basic rate for coverage of non-multicast clients.

Layer 3 Not supported with NAC for MBSSID

Layer 3 is not supported with NAC for MBSSID in this release.

DFS Enabled by Default on 5-GHz Radios in North America

In this release, Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) is automatically enabled on 5-GHz radios configured for use in North America. The 5-GHz radios use DFS to detect radar signals and avoid interfering with them. Radios configured for use in Europe and Singapore also use DFS. Other regulatory domains do not use DFS. Refer to the "DFS Enabled by Default on 5-GHz Radios in North America" section for detailed information.

Change to Default IP Address Behavior

Cisco IOS Releases 12.3(2)JA and later change the default behavior of access points requesting an IP address from a DHCP server:

•When you connect a 1200 or 1230 series access point with a default configuration to your LAN, the access point requests an IP address from your DHCP server and, if it does not receive an address, continues to send requests indefinitely.

•When you connect an 1100 series access point with a default configuration to your LAN, the 1100 series access point makes several attempts to get an IP address from the DHCP server. If it does not receive an address, it assigns itself the IP address 10.0.0.1 for 5 minutes. During this 5-minute window, you can browse to the default IP address and configure a static address. If after 5 minutes the access point is not reconfigured, it discards the 10.0.0.1 address and reverts to requesting an address from the DHCP server. If it does not receive an address, it sends requests indefinitely. If you miss the 5-minute window for browsing to the access point at 10.0.0.1, you can power-cycle the access point to repeat the process.

If the access points have SSIDs configured at the interface level (rather than at the global level), before upgrading to Cisco IOS Release 12.3(7)JA and above, upgrade to Cisco IOS Release 12.3(4)JA, save the configurations, and then upgrade to Release 12.3(8)JED1. This procedure must be followed to make sure that the SSID configurations are converted from the interface level to global level.

Changes to the Default Configuration—Radios Disabled and No Default SSID

In this release, the radio or radios are disabled by default, and there is no default SSID. You must create an SSID and enable the radio or radios before the access point allows wireless associations from other devices. These changes to the default configuration improve the security of newly installed access points.

Clients Using WPA/WPA2 and Power Save Might Fail to Authenticate

Certain clients using WPA/WPA2 key management and power save might take many attempts to authenticate or, in some cases, fail to authenticate. Any SSID defined to use authentication key-management WPA, coupled with clients using power save mode and authenticating using WPA/WPA2 may experience this problem.

A hidden configure level command, dot11 wpa handshake timeout, can be used to increase the timeout between sending the WPA key packets from the default value (100 ms) to a value between 101 and 2000 ms. The command stores its value in the configuration across device reloads.

Default Username and Password Are Cisco

When you open the access point interface, you must enter a username and password. The default username for administrator login is Cisco, and the default password is Cisco. Both the username and password are case sensitive.

Some Client Devices Cannot Associate When QoS Is Configured

Some wireless client devices, including Dell Axim handhelds and Hewlett-Packard iPaq HX4700 handhelds, cannot associate to an access point when the access point is configured for quality of service (QoS). To allow these clients to associate, disable QoS on the access point. You can use the QoS Policies page on the access point GUI to disable QoS, or enter this command on the CLI:

ap(config-if) #no dot11 qos mode

Some Devices Disassociate When Multiple BSSIDs Are Added or Deleted

Devices on your wireless LAN that are configured to associate to a specific access point based on the access point MAC address (such as client devices, repeaters, hot standby units, or workgroup bridges) might lose their association when you add or delete a multiple BSSID. When you add or delete a multiple BSSID, check the association status of devices configured to associate to a specific access point. If necessary, reconfigure the disassociated device to use the BSSID new MAC address.

Enabling MBSSIDs Without VLANs Disables Radio Interface

If you use the mbssid configuration interface command to enable multiple BSSIDs on a specific radio interface but VLANs are not configured on the access point, the access point disables the radio interface. To re-enable the radio, you must shut down the radio, disable multiple BSSIDs, and re-enable the radio. This example shows the commands you use to re-enable the radio:

AP1134(config)# interface d1

AP1134(config-if)# shut

AP1134(config-if)# no mbssid

AP1134(config-if)# no shut

After you re-enable the radio, you can enable VLANs on the access point and enable multiple BSSIDs.

Cannot Set Channel on DFS-Enabled Radios in Some Regulatory Domains

Access points with 5-GHz radios configured at the factory for use in Europe, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Israel now comply with regulations that require radio devices to use Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) to detect radar signals and avoid interfering with them. You cannot manually set the channel on DFS-enabled radios configured for these regulatory domains.

Cisco 7920 Phones Require Firmware Version 1.09 or Later When Multiple BSSIDs Are Enabled

When multiple BSSIDs are configured on the access point, Cisco 7920 wireless IP phones must run firmware version 1.09 or later.

AIR-RM21A/AIR-RM22A Radio Modules Usually Set to Max Transmit Power

AIR-RM21A and AIR-RM22A radio modules measure transmit power in decibels per milliwatt (dBm), but earlier versions of 802.11a radios in Cisco Aironet access points measure power in milliwatts (mW). Because power settings in mW do not translate directly to settings in dBm, the access point usually uses the default power setting of maximum when you install a new AIR-RM21A or AIR-RM22A radio module.

Table 1 lists 802.11a transmit power settings in mW and the power settings that the access point assigns to a new radio module.

If client devices on your wireless LAN cannot use certain network applications or cannot browse to Internet sites, you might need to adjust the MTU setting on the client devices or other network devices. For more information, refer to the Tech Note at this URL:

TACACS+ and DHCP IP Address Sometimes Locks Out Administrators

When you configure an access point for TACACS+ administration and to receive an IP address from the DHCP server, administrators might be locked out of the access point after it reboots if the administrator does not have a local username and password configured on the access point. This problem does not affect access points configured with a static IP address. Administrators who have been locked out must regain access by resetting the unit to default settings.

Access Points Do Not Support Loopback Interface

Non-Cisco Aironet 802.11g Clients Might Require Firmware Upgrade

Some non-Cisco Aironet 802.11g client devices require a firmware upgrade before they can associate to the 802.11g radio in the access point. If your non-Cisco Aironet 802.11g client device does not associate to the access point, download and install the latest client firmware from the manufacturer's website.

Throughput Option for 802.11g Radio Blocks Association by 802.11b Clients

When you configure the 802.11g access point radio for best throughput, the access point sets all data rates to basic (required). This setting blocks association from 802.11b client devices. The best throughput option appears on the web-browser interface Express Setup and Radio Settings pages and in the speed CLI configuration interface command.

Transmit Power Set to Maximum When You Install 802.11g Radio

When you replace the 802.11b radio in a 1200 series access point with an 802.11g radio, the 802.11g radio is set to the maximum transmit power allowed in your regulatory domain, regardless of the power setting configured on the 802.11b radio. After you install the 802.11g radio and the access point reboots, configure the 802.11g radio to the preferred transmit power.

Use Auto for Ethernet Duplex and Speed Settings

Cisco recommends that you use auto, the default setting, for both the speed and duplex settings on the access point Ethernet port. When your access point receives inline power from a switch, any change in the speed or duplex settings that resets the Ethernet link reboots the access point. If the switch port to which the access point is connected is not set to auto, you can change the access point port to half or full to correct a duplex mismatch, and the Ethernet link is not reset. However, if you change from half or full back to auto, the link is reset, and, if your access point receives inline power from a switch, the access point reboots.

Note The speed and duplex settings on the access point Ethernet port must match the Ethernet settings on the port to which the access point is connected. If you change the settings on the port to which the access point is connected, change the settings on the access point Ethernet port to match.

Use force-reload Option with archive download-sw Command

When you upgrade access point or bridge system software by entering the archive download-sw command on the CLI, you must use the force-reload option. If the access point or bridge does not reload the flash memory after the upgrade, the pages in the web-browser interface might not reflect the upgrade. This example shows how to upgrade system software using the archive download-sw command:

Radio MAC Address Appears in ACU

When a Cisco Aironet client device associates to an access point running IOS software, the access point MAC address that appears on the Status page in the Aironet Client Utility (ACU) is the MAC address for the access point radio. The MAC address for the access point Ethernet port is on the label on the back of the access point.

Radio MAC Address Appears in Access Point Event Log

When a client device roams from an access point (such as access point alpha) to another access point (access point bravo), a message appears in the event log on access point alpha stating that the client roamed to access point bravo. The MAC address that appears in the event message is the MAC address for the radio in access point bravo. The MAC address for the access point Ethernet port is printed on the label on the back of the access point.

Mask Field on IP Filters Page Behaves the Same As in CLI

In Cisco IOS Release 12.2(8)JA and later, the mask that you enter in the Mask field on the IP Filters page in the access point GUI behaves the same way as a mask that you enter in the CLI. If you enter 255.255.255.255 as the mask, the access point accepts any IP address. If you enter 0.0.0.0, the access point looks for an exact match with the IP address that you entered in the IP Address field.

1200 series repeater access points running Cisco IOS software cannot associate to parent access points that do not run Cisco IOS software (1200 series access points that have not been converted to run Cisco IOS software).

Repeater Access Points Cannot Be Configured as WDS Access Points

Repeater access points can participate in WDS, but they cannot provide WDS. You cannot configure a repeater access point as a main WDS access point, and if a root access point becomes a repeater in fallback mode, it cannot provide WDS.

Crossover Cable Sometimes Needed When Ethernet Speed and Duplex Set to Fixed on 1100 Series Access Points

If you change the speed and duplex settings from auto to fixed on an 1100 series access point Ethernet port, the auto-MDIX feature on the port is disabled. When auto-MDIX is disabled, you must determine whether to use a straight-through or a crossover cable to connect the access point Ethernet port to another device. If the Ethernet link goes down after you set the speed and duplex to fixed, try changing the Ethernet cable from crossover to straight-through or from straight-through to crossover.

1100 Series Access Points with Boot Loader Version 12.2(4)JA Boot into Monitor Mode

When the Ethernet port is disabled on an 1100 series access point running boot loader version 12.2(4)JA, the access point boots into monitor mode when it reboots. To avoid this problem, connect the access point Ethernet port to one of the following:

•a wired LAN

•the Ethernet port on a PC

Remove power from the access point, and reapply power to reboot the unit. When the access point senses an Ethernet connection, it boots normally.

Corrupt EAP Packet Sometimes Causes Error Message

During client authentication, the access point sometimes receives a corrupt EAP packet and displays this error message:

When Cipher Is TKIP Only, Key Management Must Be Enabled

When you configure TKIP-only cipher encryption (not TKIP + WEP 128 or TKIP + WEP 40) on any radio interface or VLAN, every SSID on that radio or VLAN must be set to use WPA or CCKM key management. If you configure TKIP on a radio or VLAN but you do not configure key management on the SSIDs, client authentication fails on the SSIDs.

Cisco CKM Supports Spectralink Phones

Non-Cisco Aironet Clients Sometimes Fail 802.1x Authentication

Some non-Cisco Aironet client adapters do not perform 802.1x authentication to the access point unless you configure Open authentication with EAP. To allow both Cisco Aironet clients using LEAP and non-Cisco Aironet clients using LEAP to associate using the same SSID, you might need to configure the SSID for both Network EAP authentication and Open authentication with EAP.

Pings and Link Tests Sometimes Fail to Clients with Both Wired and Wireless Network Connections

When you ping or run a link test from an access point to a client device installed in a PC running Microsoft Windows 2000, the ping or link test sometimes fails when the client has both wired and wireless connections to the LAN. Microsoft does not recommend this configuration. For more information, refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base article 157025 at this URL:

Layer 3 Mobility Not Supported on Repeaters and Workgroup Bridges

WLSM Required for Layer 3 Mobility

You must use a Wireless LAN Services Module (WLSM) as your WDS device to configure Layer 3 mobility. If you enable Layer 3 mobility for an SSID and your WDS device does not support Layer 3 mobility, client devices cannot associate using that SSID.

System Log Messages

The IOS command logging facility is available that allows users to customize the severity level of system error messages by determining the severity levels of system error messages that are reported or discarded. The command is supported on 1100, 1130, 1200, 1240, 1250, and 1300 series access points and 1400 series bridges. The events covered by this command are:

Using the no form of the command removes the configured severity level from the configuration and reverts to the default severity for the event.

Caveats

The following sections lists Open Caveats and Resolved Caveats in Cisco IOS Release 12.3(8)JED1. For your convenience in locating caveats in Cisco's Bug Toolkit, the caveat titles listed in this section are drawn directly from the Bug Toolkit database. These caveat titles are not intended to be read as complete sentences because the title field length is limited. In the caveat titles, some truncation of wording or punctuation might be necessary to provide the most complete and concise description. The only modifications made to these titles are as follows:

•Commands are in boldface type.

•Product names and acronyms may be standardized.

•Spelling errors and typos may be corrected.

Note If you are a registered cisco.com user, view Bug Toolkit on cisco.com at the following website:

Troubleshooting

For the most up-to-date, detailed troubleshooting information, refer to the Cisco TAC website at http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/support/index.html. If you are a registered user, click Registered users click here to access the entire technical support site. If you are not a registered user, the public public portion of the technical support site displays. Choose a task or information and proceed.

Obtaining Documentation, Obtaining Support, and Security Guidelines

For information on obtaining documentation, obtaining support, providing documentation feedback, security guidelines, and also recommended aliases and general Cisco documents, see the monthly What's New in Cisco Product Documentation, which also lists all new and revised Cisco technical documentation, at:

All other trademarks mentioned in this document or website are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (0910R)